Chapter 14

Winston

Willow had looked stunning when she'd walk through my door. I'd been silently repeating in my head that even if we had talked, I couldn't kiss her yet. She wasn't ready to do that again, or at least hadn't said so, and I wanted to respect that. But I also wanted to kiss her until she begged for more.

Instead, I focused on our tasks, and her clear love of food. Why couldn't the way to a woman's heart be through her stomach?

"You've already seen my work. Let me show you a couple of things?"

Looking over the spell sheet with Willow, I showed her the different pieces I had drawn and colored in over what was there. The wording of the spell itself had been traced out, and I'd written the ingredients on a separate piece of paper.

"I'll admit that I had to call my mother about two of these. She's supposed to get back to me on the third. So, the first is Skin of Man, which is actually Fern leaf, and the second is Semen of Hermes, which is –"

"Dill," we said together, Willow looking up at me.

"I recognize that." She replied. "I don't understand why this was all so hard to make out before. And I see you noted Blind Eyes is poppy. So the fourth... Joy of the Mountain?"

"That's the one my mom didn't know offhand. Which is odd."

"Interesting…"

Willow said nothing as she pulled out her own notes and started looking over the spell wording. I watched for a few minutes before finally excusing myself.

I left Willow and went downstairs to the kitchen. She had known about the issues with witches and children… and that had been part of why she had run. It made more sense now. We were so new to each other, and I'd rushed straight in when I hadn't mean to. I'd just lost all control. That said, even though we still needed to talk, I was firm in my belief that I wanted to have a relationship with her. I wanted her, in more ways than one.

I needed to make dinner, and she wanted to work on the spell. The kitchen was warm and soothing. The smells of baked bread, coffee and sweets always centered me. I'd prepped both options, so I just pulled out the ingredients I'd set aside in the fridge and pantry, and grabbed the stew pot.

In no time at all, the soup was simmering on the stove, and I pulled the bread bowls from the oven where I'd been keeping them warm. I ladled soup, grabbed spoons, and headed back upstairs with the wooden tray loaded with our meal. I had wine in the fridge upstairs already. I didn't even stop to make sure Lyzzie was doing okay in the café. Even after only a few days, I trusted my two main employees to handle themselves, or get me if they needed.

Willow had propped up her feet on the chair across from her that I'd been sitting in and was texting something on her phone.

"Tell Piper all about it?" I asked, joking, as I sat the food down on the kitchen counter.

Her blush traveled from her chest all the way up to her cheeks. "No?"

"Hmmm," I said, trying not to laugh as I piled all the papers up and moved them out of our way. "I somehow don't believe that." I grabbed the wine glasses and wine, adding them to the tray. I also grabbed two bottles of water. Important to stay hydrated.

I sat the food down on the table, and Willow sat up straight, dropping her feet to the ground.

"That smells like heaven." I could see her actually sniffing the air.

With a smile, I sat down across from her. "You know, I love how much you love my baking and cooking."

She smiled sheepishly. "I've always loved food." She reached up and pulled some pins from her hair, shaking it out. "Sorry, it was starting to give me a headache."

"Don't apologize, your hair is gorgeous down too. And comfort matters. Do you need anything for the headache?" I watched as she ran her fingers through her hair to untangle it and resisted the urge to grab her and kiss her again, or just to even reach out with my own hand and do the same.

"No," she said, and paused. "Actually, you know what? If you have any of the stuff you made Charlotte, I'd take it. I try to fight off my own headaches, but it doesn't always work. I don't want to deal with it tonight."

"Yeah, give me a second! I made a couple of vials to keep on hand."

I went to my cabinets in the kitchen and found the vial I needed. I handed it to Willow.

"Just a swallow of it should work. You can keep the rest, if you want."

"I love magic," she said, after taking a small sip. She corked it back, and slid it into the side of her backpack.

She smiled that beautiful smile at me, and we started eating.

"I feel bad about how many times you have fed me such delicious food, and you keep working on these spells. I've barely done anything for you."

"We've had this discussion. It's fine. What is more important to me is knowing that you didn't run away from my kiss because you were repulsed by me."

I looked intently at Willow, feeling the heat that she called to life within me. Willow almost dropped her spoon, but she persevered and took another bite. Then she tore off a piece from the top of the bread bowl and dunked it in.

"I had a bad experience with someone in college. Two someones actually. The first guy… We'd dated for a year, and I thought he was the one. We got engaged… and from there it quickly went downhill. He'd been cheating on me, and well, that was the tip of the iceberg. I broke it off and went from that to dating a woman who I literally worshiped. She took my heart and shredded it. Honestly, I haven't even dated that much since, or before. We only just met. It was a mix of panic, worry you'd regret it, and the fact that we were working together on a project that is important to me."

"I didn't mean to ask you to date me until after the project. Or to kiss you, really. I just… did."

She smiled and shook her head. "Yeah, cause I'm so irresistible."

I couldn't help it. "You're kidding right? You are hot, Willow, and there is not a second we are together that I do not want to grab you, shove you against a wall and kiss you senseless."

Realizing the words that had just come out of my mouth, I almost hightailed it out of my apartment.

Willow did drop her spoon then, and her mouth formed "Oh," but she didn't say anything.

It took all my strength to not follow through with exactly what I had just described.

Instead, I clenched my fist in my lap and I cleared my throat. "So um, yeah. That."

Willow closed her mouth and then took another bite. This time she managed to say "Oh" aloud.

"Sorry, I…"

"No, it's… it's okay. Nice to know, I suppose."

"Heh." I said, not sure how to respond. There was only so much I could say without losing it. I felt the tension like a knife.

Willow finally spoke, "I'm sorry that I ran from you. And I'm glad that we've talked. It's hard for me to imagine you not caring that you'll possibly squander your chances to carry your magical line with me."

"And yet, so much that I might gain. And it isn't guaranteed that I will not have a witch child. Just lower chances."

"I know. Still. I can see your mother's viewpoint. I would love to have magic myself."

"Is that why you study the history of it? And have a best friend who is a witch?"

"Part of it. But we were friends long before it mattered. We grew up together. Her house was across from mine, and our birthdays are only a month apart."

"Sounds like a fun childhood."

"It was. And I loved magic. Some of my family had it, but not all."

"Some? So you have magic in your genes?"

Willow pondered at that, and shook her head. "If I recall right, they married into the family. And it was a bit of an uproar. My family doesn't approve of magic. They weren't thrilled I was best friends with Piper, either."

"But you study it?"

"I lied to my parents while I was in college about what I was studying. They didn't really ask a lot of questions, and if they knew they'd pull my funding. My dad wasn't the best, and honestly I'd planned to cut ties anyway–I also just wanted access to the savings account they'd filled in for me. So I did. And then I told them the truth."

"And it didn't go well?"

"Not really. I have an uncle I still talk to occasionally, but I haven't spoken with my parents in years."

Putting down my spoon, I reach out and put my hand on Willow's knee. "I'm sorry they were like that."

"I've long come to terms with it. There are things that hurt occasionally. Memories dredged up from the bottom of the barrel that make me weep. But mostly, I do okay with it."

"Still… that sucks."

We were silent for a moment, and I ate some more, thinking about what that kind of family can be like. Those born without magic often resented those who had it. It could be complicated, to say the least. My mother had recounted stories of families coming before the witch council to have magic levels tested, and even people getting DNA tests to check whether or not they belonged.

"Not to change the subject," Willow smiled sheepishly, "but it'll be a couple of hours before we can brew the potion, right? I can happily keep working on this other spell. I think I'm close to figuring out the instruction text on it. I don't want to bore you, though."

"You do whatever you want or need. Don't worry about me. I'm in my house/café after all. I can find a way to busy myself."

For the rest of the meal, we talked about her day, and mine. When we'd finished eating, and I'd cleared the trays, I poured us a little more wine, and smiled.

"You work, and I'll get out of your way. I'll let you know when it's time?"

"That'd be amazing. Thanks, Winston."

Grabbing my tray, I went and put it on the counter. Then I brought all the papers I'd moved before back to the table. As I was setting them down, she stood up a bit and kissed me on the cheek. I put my hand on her cheek, and kissed her forehead. The gentle warmth from her face, and her deep blue eyes beckoned me in. Not wanting to lose myself, I backed away, smiled, and carried the tray downstairs.

After a few hours, the time had finally come for the potion to be brewed. Willow and I stood in the kitchen, with a cauldron and all the ingredients ready. It was more a tea than anything else, but the spell called it an elixir. I looked through the list one more time.

Essence of the Moon, or moon water

5 Rose petals

5 Hibiscus petals

5 Adder's Tongue petals, or Violet petals

1 elf leaf, or lavender, one stalk

2 teaspoons of sugar

A pinch of ground Cloves

Some Black tea leaves

A pinch of ground Cinnamon

"I think this is everything."

"And you really want to brew a potion with me that could show us we are or are not soulmates? It seems like a lot for the start of a relationship. What if we aren't soulmates according to this? Or we can't interpret the results? Will you kiss me again?"

I paused, looking at her. "The most important takeaway I have from that entire ramble is that it sounds like you want me to kiss you again."

"I… um… yes." Willow had turned a beautiful shade of pink, flushing up her chest and cheeks.

I leaned down a bit, and took her face in my hands. With a gentleness that took more willpower than I wanted to admit, I kissed her slow and sweet. Then I pulled back, and dropped my hands.

"I promise, that no matter what the spell does, I would happily kiss you everyday. And much more besides. You wanted to know the potion's purpose, did you not? This is really the only way."

Willow looked to the side and into the cauldron. It was enough. She nodded, and I could tell she didn't trust herself to speak.

"Read the instructions to me? We'll work together. I've already opened the shutters, so the light is streaming inside. It's not cloudy, and the moon hits this window, so we don't even have to adjust for that. My aunt's planning of this café was for more than just baking."

Shamelessly, I watched Willow's every movement as she bent over the table to reach for the other copy of the recipe. She turned around and caught me watching her. With a raised eyebrow, she shook her head and started reading.

"First it says to ‘brew the moon's essence upon the next full moon by bringing the water to a boil bathed in moonlight.' Okay, so start the fire, and let's boil!"

"I'd prefer not to boil, myself." I joked. She laughed, and I felt warmth fill me.

It wasn't long before the water in the cauldron began to boil on the stove.

Willow continued, "Now it says to ‘Bring the cauldron off the fire and add in the ingredients.' I suppose that means all at once."

I grabbed the various items and dumped them unceremoniously into the cauldron that I'd moved to a different burner. I supposed I could be more mystic or careful about it, but it didn't say anything in the instructions, and I was curious to find out what would happen.

"Then," continued Willow, "It says ‘after a span of five moments,' which we decided was five minutes, ‘pour the tea into the vessels.' Once we've done that we'll ‘recite together the verse, sharing the first sip as you lock eyes with one another, weaving the magic together that will show the true nature of your spirits.' Doesn't sound daunting at all."

I laughed softly as I watched the timer on my phone count down. I reached towards the back of the counter and grabbed the two teacups I'd washed and purified earlier today. They were black with the moon phases on them, a set my aunt loved.

"It sounded like a tea, so I thought teacups were appropriate." I smiled at Willow.

"Those are pretty. I think it should work fine. Vessel surely has a lot of room for interpretation."

The timer beeped, and I sat the teacups down. Setting aside the paper, Willow held them in place as I poured from the cauldron.

"Bits and pieces will be in the tea since there was no straining. Be prepared for that."

"It's really pretty," she whispered. "It's pink, and the petals are floating on top."

I sat the cauldron down on the stove with the rest of the items.

"Okay. So next we recite the words," Willow said, moving the sheet between us. "And we need to look at each other as we take the first sip." She paused. "You ready?"

"Yes." I said simply. I had no worries about how this went. I wanted Willow, and magic would not change my mind either way. Together, we chanted:

"With thine heart full and longing,

With desire, and hope twining,

Take a drink my love, my darling,

Take a drink, and see what is meant to be,

Love eternal, and forever,

With your heart full of passion,

Take a drink, together,

under light of full moon,

And see soulmates' desires."

A small glow emanated from the potion and then subsided. I raised my eyebrow.

Willow nodded, looking more entranced.

Her eyes were beautiful, and I had no problem watching her as we drank the tea. It tasted floral and sweet, with a hint of acidity. We looked at each other for a minute, and I felt nothing. And then I saw Willow's hand glowing blue. I raised my hand to find it was the same color.

She reached her hand out at the same time I did, and when we touched, it was like a lightning bolt. That same "Oh" from earlier formed on her mouth.

I couldn't resist it anymore.

I grabbed her and kissed her, sitting the teacup to the side. Hers clattered to the floor.

With a moan, I kissed her like my life depended on it. She was the air and I was suffocating without it. Her lips parted, and I used my tongue to explore, eliciting little moans from her. My hands went to her waist, and I pulled her closer to me. I was lost.